Partnership Launch Events — August 2026
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A New Lens on Teacher Impact

Join California’s Education Leaders for a Conversation We Can’t Afford to Ignore

Teacher shortages are growing, burnout is rising, and public conversations about education are dominated by statistics and alarming headlines. Yet beneath those headlines, teachers across California are changing lives every day, inspiring students to stay in school, pursue careers, strengthen their communities, and become the kind of citizens our democracy depends on. The challenge is that we rarely hear from them, and we rarely ask what makes them extraordinary.

This August, Above & Beyond Teaching and Teacher Stories are hosting two invitation-only convenings in Sacramento and Los Angeles: carefully curated gatherings built around real stories, real teachers, and an honest conversation about what great teaching makes possible.

SACRAMENTO

Northern California

Thursday, August 13, 2026 · 3:00 PM

The Center at Sierra Health Foundation

1321 Garden Highway, Suite 210

Sacramento, California 95833 MAP

LOS ANGELES

Southern California

Thursday, August 20, 2026 · 3:00 PM

John Palevsky Center

717 W Temple Street

Los Angeles, CA 90012 MAP

The Missing Perspective

Despite countless initiatives, one critical question continues to go largely unanswered: what are the extraordinary teachers doing that makes such a profound difference in students' lives, and how do we attract, prepare, support, and retain more teachers like them?

Most conversations about education focus on systems, policies, and programs. This conversation focuses on people.

The Partnership in Action

Watch: What Great Teaching Looks Like

Above & Beyond Teaching and Teacher Stories have already begun documenting the stories that define exceptional teaching in California. This short film introduces the partnership and the voices at its center.

These are not statistics. They are the moments students remember for the rest of their lives.

A NEW LENS

Teacher Stories and Above & Beyond invite you to explore a fresh perspective on teacher impact.

Instead of examining education through the lens of policy, politics, and performance metrics, we’ll examine it through the lived experiences of extraordinary teachers and the students whose lives they transformed.

Together, we’ll explore:

  • What students consistently say makes great teachers different

  • Why relationships often matter as much as academics

  • What accomplished educators believe is missing from today’s conversation

  • How communities can better support and elevate the teaching profession

  • What we can learn from teachers who continue to make an extraordinary impact

  • The future of education will not be shaped by any one organization. It will be shaped by the collective wisdom of educators, researchers, policymakers, journalists, funders, and community leaders who are willing to ask better questions. We believe your voice belongs in that conversation.

    You will join a select group of leaders exploring how we can elevate the stories, practices, and values that inspire people to enter and remain in the teaching profession.

  • You will leave with a deeper understanding of what extraordinary teachers do differently, new perspectives from educators and students on the front lines, and connections with leaders across education and public life. You will also come away with practical ideas for elevating the teaching profession and an opportunity to help shape future conversations and initiatives. Most importantly, you will have helped advance a conversation that moves beyond headlines and toward a clearer understanding of what great teaching makes possible.

  • Attendance is limited. We invite you to join us in Sacramento on August 13 or Los Angeles on August 20 for this important conversation about teacher impact, educational leadership, and the future of the profession.

  • Pose questions directly to some of California's most accomplished educators.

    Q&A with exceptional teachers

  • Firsthand accounts of the moments that shifted everything.

    Stories from students

  • Linda Darling-Hammond and Pedro Noguera on recruitment, retention, and the power of story.

    Expert perspectives

  • Policymakers, educators, journalists, researchers, and funders — in one room.

    Cross-sector dialogue

who is invited

What You’ll Experience

A Different Kind of Conversation About Teaching

Above & Beyond Teaching and Teacher Stories are joining forces to launch a new partnership dedicated to elevating the stories of teachers who profoundly shape students' lives — and, through them, their families, communities, and society as a whole.

These two invitation-only convenings will focus on something rarely discussed in credentialing, evaluation, or hiring: the emotional dimension of great teaching. The deep caring. The relationships. The moments that change the trajectory of a student's life.

A Diverse Community of Stakeholders

Attendance is by invitation. These events bring together a carefully curated blend of people who share an investment in understanding and elevating teacher impact.

Teacher educators

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Policymakers

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Journalists

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Foundation leaders

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Student teachers

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Researchers

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Teacher educators | Policymakers | Journalists | Foundation leaders | Student teachers | Researchers |

Featured Voices

  • Linda Darling-Hammond

    President, California State Board of Education & Professor Emeritus, Stanford University

  • Pedro Noguera

    Dean, USC Rossier School of Education

  • Tracey Anderson

  • Mike Tinoco

Program

AGENDA

  • Beverly Young · Ken Futernick

    An introduction to the partnership and why teacher impact matters for students, communities, and democracy.

  • Student Nominee · Carlston Award Honoree

    A student shares the story of a teacher who changed their life. The teacher responds.

  • An interactive table conversation. Every person in the room has a teacher story — this is a moment to share it.

  • Linda Darling-Hammond · Pedro Noguera

    Remarks from two of California's leading education voices on teacher recruitment, retention, and the power of storytelling.

  • Carlston Award Honorees · Moderated

    Some of California's most accomplished teachers speak candidly about the profession — and take questions from the audience.

  • Victor Rios · Rachel Auld

    A featured story from the Teacher Stories podcast.

  • Beverly Young · Ken Futernick

    How to stay connected, nominate a teacher, and support this work.

RESERVE YOUR SEAT

Partners in This Work

Sponsorship opportunities are available at multiple levels. Presenting sponsors receive prominent event branding, recognition in all communications, and partnership in future content production.